Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education), Yara Shahidi (Grown-ish), Keith Powers (Uglies), and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) are in talks to star in Bloom, a coming-of-age romance directed by Cole Swanson, who also wrote the script.
Set in the stunning landscapes of Tuscany, Bloom follows Ace (Williams-Stirling), a young and talented Black artist who relocates to Italy on a university scholarship, embarking on a deep journey of self-discovery. There, he forms unexpected friendships and experiences a passionate romance among a lavish circle of affluent young Black adults known as “The Casa Rosa Kids.” The story has been described as Love Jones reimagined in Italy, featuring wealthy Black youth entangled in a steamy love triangle.
Produced by Dane Clarke II and Joel Poku’s Pineloft Entertainment alongside Jolene Rodriguez of Broken English Productions, Bloom also brings on UK-based 1PLUS1 Productions—founded by musical artist Skepta—and Adam Strawford for music consulting.
Williams-Stirling, known for Sex Education, has previously starred in Small Axe, Roots, and the British teen series Wolfblood. Shahidi, fresh off her lead role in Grown-ish, has also appeared in Sitting in Bars with Cake, Peter Pan & Wendy, and The Sun Is Also a Star. Powers, currently on MGM+’s Emperor of Ocean Park, co-starred in Uglies alongside Joey King and appeared in What/If, The Tomorrow War, and Straight Outta Compton. Goldsberry, widely celebrated for Hamilton, now stars in Girls5eva, which recently moved to Netflix for its third season.
Swanson previously collaborated with the Pineloft Entertainment team on the jazz-themed film Betty & Blue, starring Keith David, which screened at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival this past summer.
